It’s understood the bale had just been dispatched from the baler when it began to roll down the slope.

The field is located on the side of a hill. The man in his 40’s is believed to have stepped in front of the runaway bale in an effort to stop it however, the half-tonne bale knocked him to the ground and rolled straight over him, crushing him beneath.

The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard was requested to respond to the scene and assist the National Ambulance Service.

Volunteers had been training at their base at the time and were able to respond quickly.

The Shannon based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, had been returning from a training exercise but reached Fanore in Co Clare within minutes.

The man was stretchered onto the Coast Guard helicopter after he was treated and stabilised at the scene.